Displaying a building after dark

There are a number of reasons for wishing to illuminate a building after dark. Where a town hall or other public building is lit, a major reason is civic or national pride. A mixture of civic pride and the desire to remind the local populace of its presence is frequently the reason for floodlighting a church. A further reason for floodlighting certain national and local buildings and statues is to make a town or city more attractive to visitors. In addition, a building can be lit externally for commercial reasons, even though this sometimes diminishes the area's attractiveness.